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In the United States, there is a lot of talk about the ever-increasing price at the pump. However, media outlets and everyday people still tend to overlook the hidden costs of our nation’s dependence on oil.
The price we pay for our addiction to oil is often reflected in its global impact on health, environment and climate change. The Union of Concerned Scientists stated that “Many of the environmental problems our country faces today result from our fossil fuel dependence. These impacts include global warming, air quality deterioration, oil spills, and acid rain.”

Do you remember the award winning documentary, Who Killed The Electric Car? Well, just in time for Halloween, electric cars have risen from the dead with a sequel to WKTEC opening this weekend called Revenge Of The Electric Car.
In Revenge of the Electric Car, Director Chris Paine peels back the curtain of big Automobile Companies like Nissan, General Motors and Tesla Motors to give audiences a peek into a new era that is marked by “the global resurgence of electric cars.”

A recent report by the Democratic staff of the Natural Resources Committee questions whether oil and gas companies are dedicated to American job creation. The report finds that “Despite generating $546 billion in profits between 2005 and 2010, ExxonMobil, Chevron, Shell, and BP combined to reduce their U.S. workforce by 11,200 employees over that time.”

If the price at the pump has been a huge burden on you, why not give it up all together? In 2013 General Motors plans to introduce the first all-electric car since the EVI. The much anticipated 2013 Spark took center stage at Chevrolet's 100th birthday bash. The cars are already available in Europe and Asia, and are currently being modified to fit stringent U.S. safety standards.
Not only is this vehicle stylish and sleek, it is also anticipated to house some truly impressive mechanics:

Oil spills are another example of the terrible hidden costs we don’t pay at the pump. History has clearly demonstrated that extracting and transporting oil leads to environmental disaster… eventually. It’s a hard cost we pay through increased taxes, degradation to our environment, destruction of wildlife and personal health.
The people of Tauranga, New Zealand are devastated. Recently a cargo ship struck a reef off the coast and began leaking oil. The Captain was arrested and could face one year in prison as well as a fine up to 10,000 New Zealand dollars ($7,800) if he is convicted, and “more charges are likely to follow.”

Wall Street speculators are artificially driving up the cost of gas, and everyday citizens are paying the price. According to the non-profit organization Public Citizen, for “every gallon of gas you buy, 65 to 70 cents goes right into the pockets of Wall Street traders.” In this episode of CNBC's Mad Money, host Jim Cramer discusses the effects of oil speculation on gas prices. His guest is none other than Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, whom he names as his hero in regards to the issue of Oil Speculation, and “one of the most principled guys in Washington.”

Many travelers have sought refuge from increasing gas prices in public transit, particularly trains. Unfortunately, House Republicans are attempting to cut spending on “Amtrak operations in 2012 from the current level of $563 million to $227 million.” On top of that, they are working to “strip federal funding from short routes, which make up almost half of all Amtrak ridership.”

Every day, it seems more and more people can’t function in the mornings without a caffeinated pick me up, and it looks like their cars might be the next to follow suit.
The average American coffee drinker, for instance, spends on average $164.71 per year on coffee. Everyday coffee shops across the globe toss out copious amounts of spent coffee grounds. This wasteful practice was enough to inspire Martin Bacon and his team of Teasedale Conservation Volunteers to utilize the grounds as a form of fuel. The result is the Coffee-Fueled car!